Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: First Approvals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2012

CONTACT
Adela del la Torre, 213-674-2832, [email protected]

After More Than a Decade, Dreams Are Coming True

First Approvals for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Granted

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released more information about the number of people who have applied for, and received, deferred action under the newly created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program, which was launched on August 15, provides work authorization and relief from deportation to immigrant youth who arrived in the United States as children and are advancing their education. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“After more than ten years of advocacy and efforts, almost three dozen immigrant youth finally have the documentation they need to contribute more fully to their communities and economies. The DACA approval process is evidence of government at its best: DREAMers who have provided complete applications have been notified of subsequent steps in their application processes in a timely fashion. Newly revised guidelines by USCIS have helped clarify certain issues, and we expect to see approval numbers grow in the near future. Over the next few weeks and months, the National Immigration Law Center will work with thousands of DREAMers to ensure that the number of immigrant youth applying for this program grows exponentially.”